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Werner W, Kuzminskaya M, Lurje I, Tacke F, Hammerich L. Overcoming Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Liver Cancer with Combination Therapy: Stronger Together? Semin Liver Dis 2024. [PMID: 38806159 DOI: 10.1055/a-2334-8311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer, represented mainly by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is one of the most common and deadliest tumors worldwide. While surgical resection or liver transplantation are the best option in early disease stages, these tumors often present in advanced stages and systemic treatment is required to improve survival time. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has had a positive impact especially on the treatment of advanced cancers, thereby establishing immunotherapy as part of first-line treatment in HCC and CCA. Nevertheless, low response rates reflect on the usually cold or immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment of primary liver cancer. In this review, we aim to summarize mechanisms of resistance leading to tumor immune escape with a special focus on the composition of tumor microenvironment in both HCC and CCA, also reflecting on recent important developments in ICI combination therapy. Furthermore, we discuss how combination of ICIs with established primary liver cancer treatments (e.g. multikinase inhibitors and chemotherapy) as well as more complex combinations with state-of-the-art therapeutic concepts may reshape the tumor microenvironment, leading to higher response rates and long-lasting antitumor immunity for primary liver cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Werner
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Kuzminskaya
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabella Lurje
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Linda Hammerich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Yi Y, Qin G, Yang H, Jia H, Zeng Q, Zheng D, Ye S, Zhang Z, Liu TM, Luo KQ, Deng CX, Xu RH. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Increase the Natural Killer Resistance of Circulating Tumor Cells via Intercellular Signaling of cGAS-STING-IFNβ-HLA. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400888. [PMID: 38638003 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) shed from primary tumors must overcome the cytotoxicity of immune cells, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, to cause metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) protects tumor cells from the cytotoxicity of immune cells, which is partially executed by cancer-associated mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, the mechanisms by which MSCs influence the NK resistance of CTCs remain poorly understood. This study demonstrates that MSCs enhance the NK resistance of cancer cells in a gap junction-dependent manner, thereby promoting the survival and metastatic seeding of CTCs in immunocompromised mice. Tumor cells crosstalk with MSCs through an intercellular cGAS-cGAMP-STING signaling loop, leading to increased production of interferon-β (IFNβ) by MSCs. IFNβ reversely enhances the type I IFN (IFN-I) signaling in tumor cells and hence the expression of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) on the cell surface, protecting the tumor cells from NK cytotoxicity. Disruption of this loop reverses NK sensitivity in tumor cells and decreases tumor metastasis. Moreover, there are positive correlations between IFN-I signaling, HLA-I expression, and NK tolerance in human tumor samples. Thus, the NK-resistant signaling loop between tumor cells and MSCs may serve as a novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Yi
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Guihui Qin
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Hao Jia
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Qibing Zeng
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Dejin Zheng
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Sen Ye
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Tzu-Ming Liu
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Kathy Qian Luo
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Chu-Xia Deng
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Ren-He Xu
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Cancer Center, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
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Cantallops Vilà P, Ravichandra A, Agirre Lizaso A, Perugorria MJ, Affò S. Heterogeneity, crosstalk, and targeting of cancer-associated fibroblasts in cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology 2024; 79:941-958. [PMID: 37018128 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) comprises diverse tumors of the biliary tree and is characterized by late diagnosis, short-term survival, and chemoresistance. CCAs are mainly classified according to their anatomical location and include diverse molecular subclasses harboring inter-tumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity. Besides the tumor cell component, CCA is also characterized by a complex and dynamic tumor microenvironment where tumor cells and stromal cells crosstalk in an intricate network of interactions. Cancer-associated fibroblasts, one of the most abundant cell types in the tumor stroma of CCA, are actively involved in cholangiocarcinogenesis by participating in multiple aspects of the disease including extracellular matrix remodeling, immunomodulation, neo-angiogenesis, and metastasis. Despite their overall tumor-promoting role, recent evidence indicates the presence of transcriptional and functional heterogeneous CAF subtypes with tumor-promoting and tumor-restricting properties. To elucidate the complexity and potentials of cancer-associated fibroblasts as therapeutic targets in CCA, this review will discuss the origin of cancer-associated fibroblasts, their heterogeneity, crosstalk, and role during tumorigenesis, providing an overall picture of the present and future perspectives toward cancer-associated fibroblasts targeting CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aashreya Ravichandra
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aloña Agirre Lizaso
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Maria J Perugorria
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- CIBERehd, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - Silvia Affò
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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Meng F, Yin Z, Lu F, Wang W, Zhang H. Disruption of LPA-LPAR1 pathway results in lung tumor growth inhibition by downregulating B7-H3 expression in fibroblasts. Thorac Cancer 2024; 15:316-326. [PMID: 38124403 PMCID: PMC10834189 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.15193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) belong to a class of bioactive lysophospholipids with multiple functions including immunomodulatory roles in tumor microenvironment (TME). LPA exerts its biological effects via its receptors that are highly expressed in fibroblasts among other cell types. As cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the TME, it is important to understand LPA signaling and regulation of receptors in fibroblasts or CAFs and associated regulatory roles on immunomodulation-related molecules. METHODS Cluster analysis, immunoblotting, real-time quantitative-PCR, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system, immunohistochemical staining, coculture model, and in vivo xenograft model were used to investigate the effects of LPA-LPAR1 on B7-H3 in tumor promotion of CAFs. RESULTS In this study, we found that LPAR1 and CD276 (B7-H3) were generally highly expressed in fibroblasts with good expression correlation. LPA induced B7-H3 up-expression through LPAR1, and stimulated fibroblasts proliferation that could be inhibited by silencing LPAR1 or B7-H3 as well as small molecule LPAR1 antagonist (Ki16425). Using engineered fibroblasts and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines, subsequent investigations demonstrated that CAFs promoted the proliferation of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo, and such effect could be inhibited by knocking out LPAR1 or B7-H3. CONCLUSION The present study provided new insights for roles of LPA in CAFs, which could lead to the development of innovative therapies targeting CAFs in the TME. It is also reasonable to postulate a combinatory approach to treat malignant fibrous tumors (such as NSCLC) with LPAR1 antagonists and B7-H3 targeting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanyi Meng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhiyue Yin
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Feifei Lu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Weipeng Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hongjian Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Zhang C, Sui Y, Liu S, Yang M. The Roles of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Liver Disease. Biomedicines 2024; 12:299. [PMID: 38397901 PMCID: PMC10886773 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver disease-related mortality is a major cause of death worldwide. Hepatic innate and adaptive immune cells play diverse roles in liver homeostasis and disease. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells. MDSCs can be broadly divided into monocytic MDSCs and polymorphonuclear or granulocytic MDSCs, and they functionally interact with both liver parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells, such as hepatocytes and regulatory T cells, to impact liver disease progression. The infiltration and activation of MDSCs in liver disease can be regulated by inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, tumor-associated fibroblasts, epigenetic regulation factors, and gut microbiota during liver injury and cancer. Given the pivotal roles of MDSCs in advanced liver diseases, they can be targeted to treat primary and metastatic liver cancer, liver generation, alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis. Currently, several treatments such as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent berberine are under preclinical and clinical investigation to evaluate their therapeutic efficacy on liver disease and their effect on MDSC infiltration and function. Phenotypic alteration of MDSCs in different liver diseases that are in a model-dependent manner and lack special markers for distinct MDSCs are challenges for targeting MDSCs to treat liver disease. Multi-omics study is an option to uncover the features of disease-specific MDSCs and potential gene or protein targets for liver disease treatment. In summary, MDSCs play important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of liver disease by regulating both intrahepatic innate and adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunye Zhang
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA;
| | - Yuxiang Sui
- School of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen 041004, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- NextGen Precision Health Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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Zhang N, Shu L, Liu Z, Shi A, Zhao L, Huang S, Sheng G, Yan Z, Song Y, Huang F, Tang Y, Zhang Z. The role of extracellular vesicles in cholangiocarcinoma tumor microenvironment. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1336685. [PMID: 38269274 PMCID: PMC10805838 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1336685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor that originates from the biliary system. With restricted treatment options at hand, the challenging aspect of early CCA diagnosis leads to a bleak prognosis. Besides the intrinsic characteristics of tumor cells, the generation and progression of CCA are profoundly influenced by the tumor microenvironment, which engages in intricate interactions with cholangiocarcinoma cells. Of notable significance is the role of extracellular vesicles as key carriers in enabling communication between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current research examining the interplay between extracellular vesicles and the tumor microenvironment in the context of CCA. Specifically, we will emphasize the significant contributions of extracellular vesicles in molding the CCA microenvironment and explore their potential applications in the diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and therapeutic strategies for this aggressive malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuoqi Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lizhuang Shu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zengli Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Anda Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Liming Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shaohui Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guoli Sheng
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhangdi Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Song
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fan Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yongchang Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zongli Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Wu Y, Wu C, Shi T, Cai Q, Wang T, Xiong Y, Zhang Y, Jiang W, Lu M, Chen Z, Chen J, Wang J, He R. FAP expression in adipose tissue macrophages promotes obesity and metabolic inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2303075120. [PMID: 38100414 PMCID: PMC10743525 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303075120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) are key players in the development of obesity and associated metabolic inflammation which contributes to systemic metabolic dysfunction. We here found that fibroblast activation protein α (FAP), a well-known marker of cancer-associated fibroblast, is selectively expressed in murine and human ATM among adipose tissue-infiltrating leukocytes. Macrophage FAP deficiency protects mice against diet-induced obesity and proinflammatory macrophage infiltration in obese adipose tissues, thereby alleviating hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. Mechanistically, FAP specifically mediates monocyte chemokine protein CCL8 expression by ATM, which is further upregulated upon high-fat-diet (HFD) feeding, contributing to the recruitment of monocyte-derived proinflammatory macrophages with no effect on their classical inflammatory activation. CCL8 overexpression restores HFD-induced metabolic phenotypes in the absence of FAP. Moreover, macrophage FAP deficiency enhances energy expenditure and oxygen consumption preceding differential body weight after HFD feeding. Such enhanced energy expenditure is associated with increased levels of norepinephrine (NE) and lipolysis in white adipose tissues, likely due to decreased expression of monoamine oxidase, a NE degradation enzyme, by Fap-/- ATM. Collectively, our study identifies FAP as a previously unrecognized regulator of ATM function contributing to diet-induced obesity and metabolic inflammation and suggests FAP as a potential immunotherapeutic target against metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai200040, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Tiancong Shi
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Qian Cai
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Tianyao Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Yingluo Xiong
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Yubin Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Public Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang550004, China
| | - Mingfang Lu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Zhengrong Chen
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou215008, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Nephrology, Huashan hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai200040, China
| | - Jiqiu Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai200025, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai200025, China
| | - Rui He
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai200040, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
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Yue M, Hu S, Sun H, Tuo B, Jia B, Chen C, Wang W, Liu J, Liu Y, Sun Z, Hu J. Extracellular vesicles remodel tumor environment for cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:203. [PMID: 38087360 PMCID: PMC10717809 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has transformed neoplastic disease management, yet low response rates and immune complications persist as major challenges. Extracellular vesicles including exosomes have emerged as therapeutic agents actively involved in a diverse range of pathological conditions. Mounting evidence suggests that alterations in the quantity and composition of extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute to the remodeling of the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby influencing the efficacy of immunotherapy. This revelation has sparked clinical interest in utilizing EVs for immune sensitization. In this perspective article, we present a comprehensive overview of the origins, generation, and interplay among various components of EVs within the TME. Furthermore, we discuss the pivotal role of EVs in reshaping the TME during tumorigenesis and their specific cargo, such as PD-1 and non-coding RNA, which influence the phenotypes of critical immune cells within the TME. Additionally, we summarize the applications of EVs in different anti-tumor therapies, the latest advancements in engineering EVs for cancer immunotherapy, and the challenges encountered in clinical translation. In light of these findings, we advocate for a broader understanding of the impact of EVs on the TME, as this will unveil overlooked therapeutic vulnerabilities and potentially enhance the efficacy of existing cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yue
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Shengyun Hu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Haifeng Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Baojing Tuo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Bin Jia
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Wenkang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Jinbo Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Henan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Zhenqiang Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Junhong Hu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
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Huang W, Pang Y, Liu Q, Liang C, An S, Wu Q, Zhang Y, Huang G, Chen H, Liu J, Wei W. Development and Characterization of Novel FAP-Targeted Theranostic Pairs: A Bench-to-Bedside Study. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0282. [PMID: 38706713 PMCID: PMC11066877 DOI: 10.34133/research.0282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is among the most popular targets in nuclear medicine imaging and cancer theranostics. Several small-molecule moieties (FAPI-04, FAPI-46, etc.) are used for developing FAP-targeted theranostic agents. Nonetheless, the circulation time of FAP inhibitors is relatively short, resulting in rapid clearance via kidneys, low tumor uptake, and associated unsatisfactory treatment efficacy. To address the existing drawbacks, we engineered 3 peptides named FD1, FD2, and FD3 with different circulation times through solid-phase peptide synthesis. All the 3 reported peptides bind to human and murine FAP with single-digit nanomolar affinity measured by surface plasmon resonance. The diagnostic and therapeutic potential of the agents labeled with 68Ga and 177Lu was assessed in several tumor models exhibiting different levels of FAP expression. While radiolabeled FD1 was rapidly excreted from kidneys, radiolabeled FD2/FD3 have significantly prolonged circulation, increased tumor uptake, and decreased kidney accumulation. Our findings indicated that [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FD1 positron emission tomography (PET) effectively detected FAP dynamics, whereas [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-FD2 and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-FD3 exhibited remarkable therapeutic efficacy in FAP-overexpressing tumor models, including pancreatic cancer cell models characterized by abundant stroma. Moreover, a pilot translational investigation demonstrated that [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FD1 had the capability to identify both primary and metastatic tumors with precision and distinction. In summary, we developed [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FD1 for same-day PET imaging of FAP dynamics and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-FD2 and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-FD3 for effective radioligand therapy of FAP-overexpressing tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Yizhen Pang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Minnan PET Center, Xiamen Cancer Center, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine,
Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Qiufang Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center,
Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chenyi Liang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Shuxian An
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Qianyun Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - You Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Gang Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Haojun Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Minnan PET Center, Xiamen Cancer Center, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine,
Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Weijun Wei
- Address correspondence to: (H.C.); (J.L.); (W.W.)
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Waki Y, Morine Y, Noma T, Takasu C, Teraoku H, Yamada S, Saito Y, Ikemoto T, Shimada M. Association between high expression of intratumoral fibroblast activation protein and survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:415. [PMID: 38017374 PMCID: PMC10683315 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-03012-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been reported to exhibit protumorigenic effects. Among the well-known CAF markers such as smooth muscle actin (SMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP), high expression of SMA in the peritumoral stroma has been reported to be a prognostic factor in various cancers. However, the effect of high FAP expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) has not been fully clarified. We evaluated the expression of CAF markers, focusing on FAP expression in the peripheral and intratumoral regions, to clarify the association with survival in patients with IHCC. METHODS The study cohort comprised 37 patients who underwent curative resection for IHCC. The FAP expressions were evaluated in the peripheral and intratumoral regions of the resected tissues. Clinicopathological factors and survival outcomes were investigated between patients with high versus low FAP expression. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the prognostic factors for overall survival and relapse-free survival. RESULTS The median area percentages of FAP expression in the peripheral and intratumoral regions were 15.5% and 17.8%, respectively. High FAP expression in the intratumoral region was significantly associated with worse overall survival and disease-free survival than low FAP expression in the intratumoral region. Multivariate analysis identified high intratumoral FAP expression as a risk factor for worse overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.450; p = 0.049) and relapse-free survival (hazard ratio, 2.743; p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS High intratumoral FAP expression was associated with worse survival, suggesting that intratumoral FAP expression represents malignant progression in patients with IHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhei Waki
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yuji Morine
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
| | - Takayuki Noma
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Chie Takasu
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroki Teraoku
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Yamada
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yu Saito
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ikemoto
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Shimada
- Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
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11
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Li Y, Yang B, Miao H, Liu L, Wang Z, Jiang C, Yang Y, Qiu S, Li X, Geng Y, Zhang Y, Liu Y. Nicotinamide N -methyltransferase promotes M2 macrophage polarization by IL6 and MDSC conversion by GM-CSF in gallbladder carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 78:1352-1367. [PMID: 36633260 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Nicotinamide N -methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme responsible for the methylation of nicotinamide, is involved in many metabolic pathways in adipose tissue and the liver. However, the role of NNMT in editing the tumor immune microenvironment is not well understood. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we identified that NNMT can promote IL6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) expression by decreasing the tri-methyl-histone H3 levels on the promoters of IL6 and CSF2 (encoding GM-CSF) and CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein, an essential transcription factor for IL6 expression, thus promoting differentiation of macrophages into M2 type tumor-associated macrophages and generation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Treatment of xenografted tumor models overexpressing NNMT gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) cells with the NNMT inhibitor JBSNF-000088 resulted in compromised tumor development and decreased expression levels of IL6, GM-CSF, tumor-associated macrophage marker CD206, and myeloid-derived suppressor cell marker CD33 but increased expression levels of CD8. In addition, elevated expression of NNMT in tumors of patients with GBC was correlated with increased expression levels of CD206 and CD33 but with decreased levels of CD8 and survival of patients. CONCLUSIONS These data highlight the critical role of NNMT in GBC progression. Inhibition of NNMT by JBSNF-000088 is a potential molecular target for GBC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Huijie Miao
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liguo Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengkai Jiang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shimei Qiu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Biliary Tract Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuechuan Li
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajun Geng
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijian Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Biliary Tract Disease, Shanghai, China
- Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingbin Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai, China
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12
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Cogliati B, Yashaswini CN, Wang S, Sia D, Friedman SL. Friend or foe? The elusive role of hepatic stellate cells in liver cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:647-661. [PMID: 37550577 PMCID: PMC10671228 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00821-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a substantial risk factor for the development and progression of liver cancer, which includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Studies utilizing cell fate mapping and single-cell transcriptomics techniques have identified quiescent perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as the primary source of activated collagen-producing HSCs and liver cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in HCC and liver metastasis, complemented in iCCA by contributions from portal fibroblasts. At the same time, integrative computational analysis of single-cell, single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing data have revealed marked heterogeneity among HSCs and CAFs, with distinct subpopulations displaying unique gene expression signatures and functions. Some of these subpopulations have divergent roles in promoting or inhibiting liver fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. In this Review, we discuss the dual roles of HSC subpopulations in liver fibrogenesis and their contribution to liver cancer promotion, progression and metastasis. We review the transcriptomic and functional similarities between HSC and CAF subpopulations, highlighting the pathways that either promote or prevent fibrosis and cancer, and the immunological landscape from which these pathways emerge. Insights from ongoing studies will yield novel strategies for developing biomarkers, assessing prognosis and generating new therapies for both HCC and iCCA prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Cogliati
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniela Sia
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Ren R, Xiong C, Ma R, Wang Y, Yue T, Yu J, Shao B. The recent progress of myeloid-derived suppressor cell and its targeted therapies in cancers. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e323. [PMID: 37547175 PMCID: PMC10397484 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are an immature group of myeloid-derived cells generated from myeloid cell precursors in the bone marrow. MDSCs appear almost exclusively in pathological conditions, such as tumor progression and various inflammatory diseases. The leading function of MDSCs is their immunosuppressive ability, which plays a crucial role in tumor progression and metastasis through their immunosuppressive effects. Since MDSCs have specific molecular features, and only a tiny amount exists in physiological conditions, MDSC-targeted therapy has become a promising research direction for tumor treatment with minimal side effects. In this review, we briefly introduce the classification, generation and maturation process, and features of MDSCs, and detail their functions under various circumstances. The present review specifically demonstrates the environmental specificity of MDSCs, highlighting the differences between MDSCs from cancer and healthy individuals, as well as tumor-infiltrating MDSCs and circulating MDSCs. Then, we further describe recent advances in MDSC-targeted therapies. The existing and potential targeted drugs are divided into three categories, monoclonal antibodies, small-molecular inhibitors, and peptides. Their targeting mechanisms and characteristics have been summarized respectively. We believe that a comprehensive in-depth understanding of MDSC-targeted therapy could provide more possibilities for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesDepartment of OrthodonticsWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Chenyi Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Runyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Yixuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Tianyang Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jiayun Yu
- Department of RadiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Bin Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- State Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
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14
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Lu X, Green BL, Xie C, Liu C, Chen X. Preclinical and clinical studies of immunotherapy for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100723. [PMID: 37229173 PMCID: PMC10205436 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare primary liver cancer associated with high mortality and few systemic treatment options. The behaviour of the immune system has come into focus as a potential treatment modality for many cancer types, but immunotherapy has yet to dramatically alter the treatment paradigm for CCA as it has for other diseases. Herein, we review recent studies describing the relevance of the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) in CCA. Various non-parenchymal cell types are critically important in controlling CCA progression, prognosis, and response to systemic therapy. Knowledge of the behaviour of these leukocytes could help generate hypotheses to guide the development of potential immune-directed therapies. Recently, an immunotherapy-containing combination was approved for the treatment of advanced-stage CCA. However, despite level 1 evidence demonstrating the improved efficacy of this therapy, survival remained suboptimal. In the current manuscript, we provide a comprehensive review of the TIME in CCA, preclinical studies of immunotherapies against CCA, as well as ongoing clinical trials applying immunotherapies for the treatment of CCA. Particular emphasis is placed on microsatellite unstable tumours, a rare CCA subtype that demonstrates heightened sensitivity to approved immune checkpoint inhibitors. We also discuss the challenges involved in applying immunotherapies to the treatment of CCA and the importance of understanding the TIME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjun Lu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Benjamin L. Green
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Changqing Xie
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
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15
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Conci S, Catalano G, Roman D, Zecchetto C, Lucin E, De Bellis M, Tripepi M, Guglielmi A, Milella M, Ruzzenente A. Current Role and Future Perspectives of Immunotherapy and Circulating Factors in Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancers. Int J Med Sci 2023; 20:858-869. [PMID: 37324191 PMCID: PMC10266048 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.82008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a heterogenous group of malignancies arising from the epithelial cells of the biliary tree and the gallbladder. They are often locally advanced or already metastatic at the time of the diagnosis and therefore prognosis remains dismal. Unfortunately, the management of BTCs has been limited by resistance and consequent low response rate to cytotoxic systemic therapy. New therapeutic approaches are needed to improve the survival outcomes for these patients. Immunotherapy, one of the newest therapeutic options, is changing the approach to the oncological treatment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are by far the most promising group of immunotherapeutic agents: they work by blocking the tumor-induced inhibition of the immune cellular response. Immunotherapy in BTCs is currently approved as second-line treatment for patients whose tumors have a peculiar molecular profile, such as high levels of microsatellites instability, PD-L1 overexpression, or high levels of tumor mutational burden. However, emerging data from ongoing clinical trials seem to suggest that durable responses can be achieved in other subsets of patients. The BTCs are characterized by a highly desmoplastic microenvironment that fuels the growth of cancer tissue, but tissue biopsies are often difficult to obtain or not feasible in BTCs. Recent studies have hence proposed to use liquid biopsy approaches to search the blood circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to use as biomarkers in BTCs. So far studies are insufficient to promote their use in clinical management, however trials are still in progress with promising preliminary results. Analysis of blood samples for ctDNA to research possible tumor-specific genetic or epigenetic alterations that could be linked to treatment response or prognosis was already feasible. Although there are still few data available, ctDNA analysis in BTC is fast, non-invasive, and could also represent a way to diagnose BTC earlier and monitor tumor response to chemotherapy. The prognostic capabilities of soluble factors in BTC are not yet precisely determined and more studies are needed. In this review, we will discuss the different approaches to immunotherapy and tumor circulating factors, the progress that has been made so far, and the possible future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Conci
- Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Catalano
- Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Diletta Roman
- Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Camilla Zecchetto
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Lucin
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Mario De Bellis
- Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Marzia Tripepi
- Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Alfredo Guglielmi
- Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Ruzzenente
- Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, University Hospital G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
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16
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Zhao Z, Li T, Yuan Y, Zhu Y. What is new in cancer-associated fibroblast biomarkers? Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:96. [PMID: 37143134 PMCID: PMC10158035 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is one of the important drivers of tumor development. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor stroma and actively participate in tumor development, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, and other biological behaviors. CAFs are a highly heterogeneous group of cells, a reflection of the diversity of their origin, biomarkers, and functions. The diversity of CAF origin determines the complexity of CAF biomarkers, and CAF subpopulations expressing different biomarkers may play contrasting roles in tumor progression. In this review, we provide an overview of these emerging CAF biomarkers and the biological functions that they suggest, which may give a better understanding of the relationship between CAFs and tumor cells and be of great significance for breakthroughs in precision targeted therapy for tumors. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University), No. 44 of Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, China
| | - Tianming Li
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University), No. 44 of Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Tumor Etiology and Screening Department of Cancer Institute and General Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Etiology and Prevention in Liaoning Education Department, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Key Laboratory of GI Cancer Etiology and Prevention in Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155 of Nanjing Road, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China.
| | - Yanmei Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University), No. 44 of Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, China.
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17
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Wang Z, Wang J, Lan T, Zhang L, Yan Z, Zhang N, Xu Y, Tao Q. Role and mechanism of fibroblast-activated protein-α expression on the surface of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1135384. [PMID: 37006278 PMCID: PMC10064071 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1135384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast-activated protein-α (FAP) is a type II integrated serine protease expressed by activated fibroblasts during fibrosis or inflammation. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial sites abundantly and stably overexpress FAP and play important roles in regulating the cellular immune, inflammatory, invasion, migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis responses in the synovial region. Overexpression of FAP is regulated by the initial inflammatory microenvironment of the disease and epigenetic signaling, which promotes RA development by regulating FLSs or affecting the signaling cross-linking FLSs with other cells at the local synovium and inflammatory stimulation. At present, several treatment options targeting FAP are in the process of development. This review discusses the basic features of FAP expressed on the surface of FLSs and its role in RA pathophysiology and advances in targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Wang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate school, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jinping Wang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi Lan
- Graduate school, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Liubo Zhang
- Graduate school, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zeran Yan
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yuan Xu, ; Qingwen Tao,
| | - Qingwen Tao
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yuan Xu, ; Qingwen Tao,
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18
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Vita F, Olaizola I, Amato F, Rae C, Marco S, Banales JM, Braconi C. Heterogeneity of Cholangiocarcinoma Immune Biology. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060846. [PMID: 36980187 PMCID: PMC10047186 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are aggressive tumors arising along the biliary tract epithelium, whose incidence and mortality are increasing. CCAs are highly desmoplastic cancers characterized by a dense tumor microenvironment (TME), in which each single component plays a fundamental role in shaping CCA initiation, progression and resistance to therapies. The crosstalk between cancer cells and TME can affect the recruitment, infiltration and differentiation of immune cells. According to the stage of the disease and to intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity, TME may contribute to either protumoral or antitumoral activities. Therefore, a better understanding of the effect of each immune cell subtype may open the path to new personalized immune therapeutic strategies for the management of CCA. In this review, we describe the role of immune cells in CCA initiation and progression, and their crosstalk with both cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the cancer-stem-cell-like (CSC) niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Vita
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (F.V.); (F.A.); (C.R.); (S.M.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Irene Olaizola
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute–Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20014 San Sebastian, Spain; (I.O.); (J.M.B.)
| | - Francesco Amato
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (F.V.); (F.A.); (C.R.); (S.M.)
| | - Colin Rae
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (F.V.); (F.A.); (C.R.); (S.M.)
| | - Sergi Marco
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (F.V.); (F.A.); (C.R.); (S.M.)
| | - Jesus M. Banales
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute–Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20014 San Sebastian, Spain; (I.O.); (J.M.B.)
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd, “Instituto de Salud Carlos III”), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Chiara Braconi
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (F.V.); (F.A.); (C.R.); (S.M.)
- Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow G12 0YN, UK
- Correspondence:
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19
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Ying F, Chan MSM, Lee TKW. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 15:985-999. [PMID: 36708970 PMCID: PMC10040968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) includes hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and is the sixth most common cancer worldwide with poor prognosis. PLC is characterized by an abundant stromal reaction in which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major stromal components. Solid evidence has demonstrated the crucial role of CAFs in tumor progression, and CAF abundance is often correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Although CAFs are regarded as an attractive and promising target for PLC treatment, a poor understanding of CAF origins and heterogeneity and a lack of specific CAF markers are the major hurdles to efficient CAF-specific therapy. In this review, we examine recent advances in the understanding of CAF diversity in the context of biomarkers, subtypes, and functions in PLC. The regulatory roles of CAFs in extracellular matrix remodeling, metastasis, cancer stemness, and therapeutic resistance are summarized. With an increasing link between CAF abundance and reduced antitumor immune responses, we provide updated knowledge on the crosstalk between CAFs and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, which leads to immune resistance. In addition, we present current CAF-targeted therapies and describe some future perspectives. A better understanding of CAF biology will shed light on a novel therapeutic strategy against PLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Ying
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Mandy Sze Man Chan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
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Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver cancer. Its incidence is low in the Western world but is rising globally. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been the only treatment options for decades. Progress in our molecular understanding of the disease and the identification of druggable targets, such as IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, has provided new treatment options. Immunotherapy has emerged as a potent strategy for many different types of cancer and has shown efficacy in combination with chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma. In this Review, we discuss findings related to key immunological aspects of cholangiocarcinoma, including the heterogeneous landscape of immune cells within the tumour microenvironment, the immunomodulatory effect of the microbiota and IDH1 mutations, and the association of immune-related signatures and patient outcomes. We introduce findings from preclinical immunotherapy studies, discuss future immune-mediated treatment options, and provide a summary of results from clinical trials testing immune-based approaches in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. This Review provides a thorough survey of our knowledge on immune signatures and immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma.
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Bioinformatics Analysis of Inflammation Gene Signature in Indicating Cholangiocarcinoma Prognosis. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:9975838. [PMID: 36065308 PMCID: PMC9440805 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9975838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aim. We studied inflammatory response-related genes in cholangiocarcinoma by bioinformatics analysis. Methods. The expression profiles and clinical information of cholangiocarcinoma patients were downloaded from the TCGA cohort and the Gene Expression Omnibus. The greatest absolute shrinking and selecting operator Cox analyses were utilized to build a multigene predictive signature. Results. An inflammation response-related gene profile was generated using LASSO-Cox regression analysis of Homo sapiens bestrophin 1 (BEST1), Chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor (PLAUR). Individuals in the highest category had a significantly lower overall survival time than those from the low-risk group. A receiver operating curve analysis was used to demonstrate the predictive ability of the predictive gene signature. Through multivariate Cox analysis, the risk score was discovered to be a predictor of overall survival (OS). According to functional assessments, the immunological state and milieu of the two risk areas were significantly different. The expression levels of predictive genes were found to be strongly linked to the sensitivity of cancer cells to antitumor therapy. Conclusion. A new signature made up of three respective response-relevant genes is found to be a promising indicator of prognosis by influencing the immune condition and tumor microenvironment.
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22
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Peng H, Zhu E, Zhang Y. Advances of cancer-associated fibroblasts in liver cancer. Biomark Res 2022; 10:59. [PMID: 35971182 PMCID: PMC9380339 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, it is ranked sixth in incidence and fourth in mortality. According to the distinct origin of malignant tumor cells, liver cancer is mainly divided into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Since most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, the prognosis of liver cancer is poor. Tumor growth depends on the dynamic interaction of various cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME). As the most abundant components of tumor stroma, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been involved in the progression of liver cancer. The interplay between CAFs and tumor cells, immune cells, or vascular endothelial cells in the TME through direct cell-to-cell contact or indirect paracrine interaction, affects the initiation and development of tumors. Additionally, CAFs are not a homogeneous cell population in liver cancer. Recently, single-cell sequencing technology has been used to help better understand the diversity of CAFs in liver cancer. In this review, we mainly update the knowledge of CAFs both in HCC and CCA, including their cell origins, chemoresistance, tumor stemness induction, tumor immune microenvironment formation, and the role of tumor cells on CAFs. Understanding the context-dependent role of different CAFs subsets provides new strategies for precise liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Erwei Zhu
- The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang (The Oncology Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, 222006, China
| | - Yewei Zhang
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Carloni R, Rizzo A, Ricci AD, Federico AD, De Luca R, Guven DC, Yalcin S, Brandi G. Targeting tumor microenvironment for cholangiocarcinoma: Opportunities for precision medicine. Transl Oncol 2022; 25:101514. [PMID: 35977458 PMCID: PMC9396390 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CCA has a dismal prognosis, and it is usually diagnosed in advanced stage for which available treatments have limited efficacy. CCA TME presents an abundant desmoplastic stroma and exhibits a high heterogeneity. TME plays a central role in cancer development and in the resistance to treatments. Treatments targeting the TME in association with cytotoxic agents could represent a promising therapeutic strategy.
Systemic treatments (e.g., chemotherapy and targeted therapies) have limited efficacy for patients with locally advanced – unresectable – and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), with an overall survival of less than a year. Tumor microenvironment (TME) represents the ecosystem surrounding the tumor which comprises immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and a wide range of soluble factors. CCA TME is characterized by an abundant desmoplastic stroma, exhibits a high heterogeneity and it plays a central role in cancer onset and progression. There is growing evidence suggesting that it is possible to target TME in association with other treatment modalities, such as cytotoxic chemotherapy or targeted therapies, paving the way to possible combination strategies with a synergistic effect. Herein, we describe the components of CCA TME – such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and other cells of pivotal importance - with their most relevant interactions, focusing on the preclinical rationale for the development of effective anticancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Carloni
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Massarenti, 9, Bologna 40138, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni, 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rizzo
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico "Don Tonino Bello", I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari 70124, Italy.
| | - Angela Dalia Ricci
- Medical Oncology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Federico
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Massarenti, 9, Bologna 40138, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni, 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Raffaele De Luca
- Department of Surgical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori " Giovanni Paolo ", Bari, Italy
| | - Deniz Can Guven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Suayib Yalcin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Giovanni Brandi
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Massarenti, 9, Bologna 40138, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni, 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
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Yang R, Song Y, Shakoor K, Yi W, Peng C, Liu S. Insights into the role of STAT3 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (Review). Mol Med Rep 2022; 25:171. [PMID: 35302174 PMCID: PMC8971913 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2022.12687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a primary malignant liver tumour whose incidence is second only to that of hepatocellular carcinoma. ICC is a highly heterogeneous disease arising from neoplastic transformation of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes), and it is characterized by a very poor prognosis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important oncogene that is widely expressed in numerous cancers. STAT3 is a candidate target for the treatment of ICC. However, studies on STAT3 and the occurrence and development of ICC require improvements. Therefore, the present review summarized the mechanism of STAT3 in ICC and provided a theoretical basis for STAT3 to become an effective target for determining the prognosis and treatment of ICC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranzhiqiang Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410005, P.R. China
| | - Yinghui Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410005, P.R. China
| | - Kashif Shakoor
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410005, P.R. China
| | - Weimin Yi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410005, P.R. China
| | - Chuang Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410005, P.R. China
| | - Sulai Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410005, P.R. China
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25
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Ravichandra A, Bhattacharjee S, Affò S. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression and therapeutic resistance. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 156:201-226. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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26
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Lin Y, Cai Q, Chen Y, Shi T, Liu W, Mao L, Deng B, Ying Z, Gao Y, Luo H, Yang X, Huang X, Shi Y, He R. CAFs shape myeloid-derived suppressor cells to promote stemness of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma through 5-lipoxygenase. Hepatology 2022; 75:28-42. [PMID: 34387870 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS We previously demonstrated that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumor growth through recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is highly expressed in myeloid cells and is critical for synthesizing leukotriene B4 (LTB4), which is involved in tumor progression by activating its receptor leukotriene B4 receptor type 2 (BLT2). In this study, we investigated whether and how CAFs regulate MDSC function to enhance cancer stemness, the driving force of the cancer aggressiveness and chemotherapy refractoriness, in highly desmoplastic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). APPROACH AND RESULTS RNA-sequencing analysis revealed enriched metabolic pathways but decreased inflammatory pathways in cancer MDSCs compared with blood MDSCs from patients with ICC. Co-injection of ICC patient-derived CAFs promoted cancer stemness in an orthotopic ICC model, which was blunted by MDSC depletion. Conditioned media (CM) from CAF-educated MDSCs drastically promoted tumorsphere formation efficiency and stemness marker gene expression in ICC cells. CAF-CM stimulation increased expression and activity of 5-LO in MDSCs, while 5-LO inhibitor impaired the stemness-enhancing capacity of MDSCs in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, IL-6 and IL-33 primarily expressed by CAFs mediated hyperactivated 5-LO metabolism in MDSCs. We identified the LTB4-BLT2 axis as the critical downstream metabolite signaling of 5-LO in promoting cancer stemness, as treatment with LTB4 was elevated in CAF-educated MDSCs, or blockade of BLT2 (which was preferentially expressed in stem-like ICC cells) significantly reduced stemness-enhancing effects of CAF-educated MDSCs. Finally, BLT2 blockade augmented chemotherapeutic efficacy in ICC patient-derived xenograft models. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals a role for CAFs in orchestrating the optimal cancer stemness-enhancing microenvironment by educating MDSCs, and suggests the 5-LO/LTB4-BLT2 axis as promising therapeutic targets for ICC chemoresistance by targeting cancer stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Lin
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Cai
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiancong Shi
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiren Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Mao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Deng
- Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Ying
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoyang Luo
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuguang Yang
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaowu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinghong Shi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui He
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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27
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Potential for a theranostic approach targeting cancer associated fibroblasts. Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822960-6.00039-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Wang T, Wen W, Liu H, Zhang J, Zhang X, Wang Y. Development and Validation of a Novel Prognosis Prediction Model for Patients With Stomach Adenocarcinoma. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:793401. [PMID: 35004767 PMCID: PMC8727349 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.793401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is a significant global health problem. It is urgent to identify reliable predictors and establish a potential prognostic model. Methods: RNA-sequencing expression data of patients with STAD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Gene expression profiling and survival analysis were performed to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with significant clinical prognosis value. Overall survival (OS) analysis and univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to establish the prognostic model. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, functional enrichment analysis, and differential expression investigation were also performed to further explore the potential mechanism of the prognostic genes in STAD. Finally, nomogram establishment was undertaken by performing multivariate Cox regression analysis, and calibration plots were generated to validate the nomogram. Results: A total of 229 overlapping DEGs were identified. Following Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, 11 genes significantly associated with prognosis were screened and five of these genes, including COL10A1, MFAP2, CTHRC1, P4HA3, and FAP, were used to establish the risk model. The results showed that patients with high-risk scores have a poor prognosis, compared with those with low-risk scores (p = 0.0025 for the training dataset and p = 0.045 for the validation dataset). Subsequently, a nomogram (including TNM stage, age, gender, histologic grade, and risk score) was created. In addition, differential expression and immunohistochemistry stain of the five core genes in STAD and normal tissues were verified. Conclusion: We develop a prognostic-related model based on five core genes, which may serve as an independent risk factor for survival prediction in patients with STAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Wen
- Department of Dermatology, Third People's Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongfei Liu
- Department of Zhiweibing, Ningbo Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Digestive Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- Xiaofeng Zhang
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Digestive Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Wang
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Wang S, Tan Q, Hou Y, Dou H. Emerging Roles of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Diabetes. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:798320. [PMID: 34975496 PMCID: PMC8716856 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.798320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes is a syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia with or without insulin resistance. Its etiology is attributed to the combined action of genes, environment and immune cells. Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) is a heterogeneous population of immature cells with immunosuppressive ability. In recent years, different studies have debated the quantity, activity changes and roles of MDSC in the diabetic microenvironment. However, the emerging roles of MDSC have not been fully documented with regard to their interactions with diabetes. Here, the manifestations of MDSC and their subsets are reviewed with regard to the incidence of diabetes and diabetic complications. The possible drugs targeting MDSC are discussed with regard to their potential of treating diabetes. We believe that understanding MDSC will offer opportunities to explain pathological characteristics of different diabetes. MDSC also will be used for personalized immunotherapy of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Tan
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Yayi Hou
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huan Dou
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Engineered exosome-like nanovesicles suppress tumor growth by reprogramming tumor microenvironment and promoting tumor ferroptosis. Acta Biomater 2021; 135:567-581. [PMID: 34506976 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Tumor vaccines that induce effective and sustained antitumor immunity are highly promising for cancer therapy. However, the antitumor potential of these vaccines is weakened due to the immunosuppressive characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal cells within the TME; they play an important role in tumor growth, metastasis, immunosuppression, and drug resistance. Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) is overexpressed in CAFs in more than 90% of human tumor tissues. Further, FAP+CAFs are an ideal interstitial target for the immunotherapy of solid tumors. Exosomes derived from tumor cells contain many tumor antigens, which can be used as the basis of tumor vaccines that elicit strong antitumor immunity. Almost all exosome-based cancer vaccines have been designed and developed for tumor parenchymal cells. Moreover, the exosome production is very low and the purification is very difficult, limiting their clinical application as tumor vaccines. In this study, we developed FAP gene-engineered tumor cell-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (eNVs-FAP) as a tumor vaccine that can be prepared easily and in large quantities. The eNVs-FAP vaccine inhibited tumor growth by inducing strong and specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune responses against tumor cells and FAP+CAFs and reprogramming the immunosuppressive TME in the colon, melanoma, lung, and breast cancer models. Moreover, eNVs-FAP vaccine-activated cellular immune responses could promote tumor ferroptosis by releasing interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) from CTLs and depleting FAP+CAFs. Thus, eNVs-FAP is a candidate tumor vaccine targeting both the tumor parenchyma and the stroma. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Nanovaccines can activate immune cells and promote an antitumor immune response. In this study, we developed the fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) gene-engineered tumor cell-derived exosome-like vesicle vaccines (eNVs-FAP). A large number of eNVs-FAP were obtained by continuously squeezing FAP gene-engineered tumor cells. eNVs-FAP showed excellent antitumor effects in a variety of tumor-bearing mouse models. The mechanistic analysis showed that eNVs-FAP promoted the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), increased the infiltration of effector T cells into target tumor cells and FAP-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts (FAP+CAFs), and reduced the proportion of immunosuppressive cells, including M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and regulatory T cells (Tregs), in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, the clearance of FAP+CAFs helped enhance interferon-gamma-induced tumor cell ferroptosis.
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Xin L, Gao J, Zheng Z, Chen Y, Lv S, Zhao Z, Yu C, Yang X, Zhang R. Fibroblast Activation Protein-α as a Target in the Bench-to-Bedside Diagnosis and Treatment of Tumors: A Narrative Review. Front Oncol 2021; 11:648187. [PMID: 34490078 PMCID: PMC8416977 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.648187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) is a type II integral serine protease that is specifically expressed by activated fibroblasts. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor stroma have an abundant and stable expression of FAP, which plays an important role in promoting tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression. For example, in females with a high incidence of breast cancer, CAFs account for 50–70% of the cells in the tumor’s microenvironment. CAF overexpression of FAP promotes tumor development and metastasis by influencing extracellular matrix remodeling, intracellular signaling, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and immunosuppression. This review discusses the basic biological characteristics of FAP and its applications in the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. We review the emerging basic and clinical research data regarding the use of nanomaterials that target FAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xin
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jinfang Gao
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ziliang Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yiyou Chen
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Shuxin Lv
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhikai Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Chunhai Yu
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaotang Yang
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ruiping Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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Dendl K, Finck R, Giesel FL, Kratochwil C, Lindner T, Mier W, Cardinale J, Kesch C, Röhrich M, Rathke H, Gampp H, Ristau J, Adeberg S, Jäger D, Debus J, Haberkorn U, Koerber SA. FAP imaging in rare cancer entities-first clinical experience in a broad spectrum of malignancies. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2021; 49:721-731. [PMID: 34342669 PMCID: PMC8803688 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-021-05488-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE 68 Ga-FAPI (fibroblast activation protein inhibitor) is a rapidly evolving and highly promising radiotracer for PET/CT imaging, presenting excellent results in a variety of tumor entities, particularly in epithelial carcinomas. This retrospective analysis sought to evaluate the potential and impact of FAPI-PET/CT in rare cancer diseases with respect to improvement in staging and therapy, based on tracer uptake in normal organs and tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-five patients with rare tumor entities, defined by a prevalence of 1 person out of 2000 or less, received a 68 Ga-FAPI-PET/CT scan. Fourteen women and 41 men (median age 60) were included within the following subgroups: cancer of unknown primary (n = 10), head and neck cancer (n = 13), gastrointestinal and biliary-pancreatic cancer (n = 17), urinary tract cancer (n = 4), neuroendocrine cancer (n = 4), and others (n = 7). Tracer uptake was quantified by standardized uptake values SUVmax and SUVmean and the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) was determined (SUVmax tumor/SUVmean organ). RESULTS In 20 out of 55 patients, the primary tumor was identified and 31 patients presented metastases (n = 88), characterized by a high mean SUVmax in primary (10.1) and metastatic lesions (7.6). The highest uptake was observed in liver metastases (n = 6) with a mean SUVmax of 9.8 and a high TBR of 8.7, closely followed by peritoneal carcinomatosis (n = 16) presenting a mean SUVmax of 9.8 and an excellent TBR of 29.6. In terms of the included subgroups, the highest uptake regarding mean SUVmax was determined in gastrointestinal and biliary-pancreatic cancer with 9.8 followed closely by urinary tract cancer with 9.5 and head and neck cancer (9.1). CONCLUSION Due to excellent tumor visualization and, thereby, sharp contrasts in terms of high TBRs in primary and metastatic lesions in different rare malignancies, 68 Ga-FAPI-PET/CT crystallizes as a powerful and valuable imaging tool, particularly with respect to epithelial carcinomas, and therefore an enhancement to standard diagnostics imaging methodologies. The realization of further and prospective studies is of large importance to confirm the potential of FAP imaging in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Dendl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Finck
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - F L Giesel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - C Kratochwil
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - T Lindner
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - W Mier
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Cardinale
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C Kesch
- Department of Urology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - M Röhrich
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - H Rathke
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - H Gampp
- Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Ristau
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - S Adeberg
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - D Jäger
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Debus
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - U Haberkorn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Nuclear Medicine, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg, Member of the German Center for Lung Research DZL, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - S A Koerber
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Jin J, Lin J, Xu A, Lou J, Qian C, Li X, Wang Y, Yu W, Tao H. CCL2: An Important Mediator Between Tumor Cells and Host Cells in Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:722916. [PMID: 34386431 PMCID: PMC8354025 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.722916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) formation is a major cause of immunosuppression. The TME consists of a considerable number of macrophages and stromal cells that have been identified in multiple tumor types. CCL2 is the strongest chemoattractant involved in macrophage recruitment and a powerful initiator of inflammation. Evidence indicates that CCL2 can attract other host cells in the TME and direct their differentiation in cooperation with other cytokines. Overall, CCL2 has an unfavorable effect on prognosis in tumor patients because of the accumulation of immunosuppressive cell subtypes. However, there is also evidence demonstrating that CCL2 enhances the anti-tumor capability of specific cell types such as inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils. The inflammation state of the tumor seems to have a bi-lateral role in tumor progression. Here, we review works focusing on the interactions between cancer cells and host cells, and on the biological role of CCL2 in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiakang Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinti Lin
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ankai Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianan Lou
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Qian
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiumao Li
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yitian Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huimin Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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34
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Collagenase-Expressing Salmonella Targets Major Collagens in Pancreatic Cancer Leading to Reductions in Immunosuppressive Subsets and Tumor Growth. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143565. [PMID: 34298778 PMCID: PMC8306875 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can be attributed, in part, to a dense extracellular matrix containing excessive collagen deposition. Here, we describe a novel Salmonella typhimurium (ST) vector expressing the bacterial collagenase Streptomyces omiyaensis trypsin (SOT), a serine protease known to hydrolyze collagens I and IV, which are predominantly found in PDAC. Utilizing aggressive models of PDAC, we show that ST-SOT selectively degrades intratumoral collagen leading to decreases in immunosuppressive subsets, tumor proliferation and viability. Ultimately, we found that ST-SOT treatment significantly modifies the intratumoral immune landscape to generate a microenvironment that may be more conducive to immunotherapy.
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Abstract
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have undergone a resurgence in the past decade. A better understanding of the breadth of tumour-associated antigens, the native immune response and development of novel technologies for antigen delivery has facilitated improved vaccine design. The goal of therapeutic cancer vaccines is to induce tumour regression, eradicate minimal residual disease, establish lasting antitumour memory and avoid non-specific or adverse reactions. However, tumour-induced immunosuppression and immunoresistance pose significant challenges to achieving this goal. In this Review, we deliberate on how to improve and expand the antigen repertoire for vaccines, consider developments in vaccine platforms and explore antigen-agnostic in situ vaccines. Furthermore, we summarize the reasons for failure of cancer vaccines in the past and provide an overview of various mechanisms of resistance posed by the tumour. Finally, we propose strategies for combining suitable vaccine platforms with novel immunomodulatory approaches and standard-of-care treatments for overcoming tumour resistance and enhancing clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Saxena
- Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Nina Bhardwaj
- Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Hematology and Oncology Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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36
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The Emerging Role of Immunotherapy in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050422. [PMID: 33922362 PMCID: PMC8146949 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancer, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC) in particular, represents a rather uncommon, highly aggressive malignancy with unfavorable prognosis. Therapeutic options remain scarce, with platinum-based chemotherapy is being considered as the gold standard for the management of advanced disease. Comprehensive molecular profiling of tumor tissue biopsies, utilizing multi-omics approaches, enabled the identification of iCC’s intratumor heterogeneity and paved the way for the introduction of novel targeted therapies under the scope of precision medicine. Yet, the unmet need for optimal care of patients with chemo-refractory disease or without targetable mutations still exists. Immunotherapy has provided a paradigm shift in cancer care over the past decade. Currently, immunotherapeutic strategies for the management of iCC are under intense research. Intrinsic factors of the tumor, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and mismatch repair (MMR) status, are simply the tip of the proverbial iceberg with regard to resistance to immunotherapy. Acknowledging the significance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in both cancer growth and drug response, we broadly discuss about its diverse immune components. We further review the emerging role of immunotherapy in this rare disease, summarizing the results of completed and ongoing phase I–III clinical trials, expounding current challenges and future directions.
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37
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Van Rymenant Y, Tanc M, Van Elzen R, Bracke A, De Wever O, Augustyns K, Lambeir AM, Kockx M, De Meester I, Van Der Veken P. In Vitro and In Situ Activity-Based Labeling of Fibroblast Activation Protein with UAMC1110-Derived Probes. Front Chem 2021; 9:640566. [PMID: 33996747 PMCID: PMC8114891 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.640566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a proline-selective protease that belongs to the S9 family of serine proteases. It is typically highly expressed in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and especially in cancer-associated fibroblasts, the main cell components of the tumor stroma. The exact role of its enzymatic activity in the TME remains largely unknown. Hence, tools that enable selective, activity-based visualization of FAP within the TME can help to unravel FAP’s function. We describe the synthesis, biochemical characterization, and application of three different activity-based probes (biotin-, Cy3-, and Cy5-labeled) based on the FAP-inhibitor UAMC1110, an in-house developed molecule considered to be the most potent and selective FAP inhibitor available. We demonstrate that the three probes have subnanomolar FAP affinity and pronounced selectivity with respect to the related S9 family members. Furthermore, we report that the fluorescent Cy3- and Cy5-labeled probes are capable of selectively detecting FAP in a cellular context, making these chemical probes highly suitable for further biological studies. Moreover, proof of concept is provided for in situ FAP activity staining in patient-derived cryosections of urothelial tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yentl Van Rymenant
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Muhammet Tanc
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - An Bracke
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Olivier De Wever
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Koen Augustyns
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anne-Marie Lambeir
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Ingrid De Meester
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Der Veken
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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38
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Wang J, Ilyas S. Targeting the tumor microenvironment in cholangiocarcinoma: implications for therapy. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:429-438. [PMID: 33322977 PMCID: PMC8096665 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1865308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are biliary epithelial tumors with rising incidence over the past 3 decades. Early diagnosis of CCAs remains a significant challenge and the majority of patients present at an advanced stage. CCAs are heterogeneous tumors and currently available standard systemic therapy options are of limited effectiveness. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has transformed cancer therapy across a spectrum of malignancies. However, the response rate to ICI has been relatively disappointing in CCAs owing to its desmoplastic tumor microenvironment (TME).Areas covered: Tumor microenvironment of CCAs consists of innate and adaptive cells, stromal cells, and extracellular components (cytokines, chemokines, exosomes, etc.). This intricate microenvironment has multiple immunosuppressive elements that promote tumor cell survival and therapeutic resistance. Accordingly, there is a need for the development of effective therapeutic strategies that target the TME. Herein, we review the components of the CCA TME, and potential therapies targeting the CCA TME.Expert opinion: CCAs are desmoplastic tumors with a dense tumor microenvironment. An enhanced understanding of the various components of the CCA TME is essential in the effort to develop novel biomarkers for patient stratification as well as combination therapeutic strategies that target the tumor plus the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Sumera Ilyas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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39
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Louis C, Edeline J, Coulouarn C. Targeting the tumor microenvironment in cholangiocarcinoma: implications for therapy. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:153-162. [PMID: 33502260 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1882998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare, deadly cancer that is characterized by an abundant desmoplastic stroma. Late diagnoses and limited available effective treatments are major problems with this malignancy. Targeting of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy.Areas covered: In this review, we describe the role of the various compartments of the TME in CCA and focus on the preclinical rationale for the development of innovative therapies. Relevant literature was identified by a PubMed search covering the last decade (2010-2020).Expert opinion: Low efficacy of surgery and cytotoxic chemotherapy emphasizes the need for new therapeutic strategies and companion biomarkers. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the stroma is yielding a critical functional characterization of TME in CCA and is paving the way for immunotherapies and cancer-associated fibroblast and extracellular matrix-oriented treatments. We believe that the development of treatments targeting the components of the TME will produce the best results if in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Biomarkers should be developed to define the patient population of interest for each combination strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corentin Louis
- Inserm, Univ Rennes 1, COSS (Chemistry, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling), UMR_S 1242, Centre De Lutte Contre Le Cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - Julien Edeline
- Inserm, Univ Rennes 1, COSS (Chemistry, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling), UMR_S 1242, Centre De Lutte Contre Le Cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - Cédric Coulouarn
- Inserm, Univ Rennes 1, COSS (Chemistry, Oncogenesis Stress Signaling), UMR_S 1242, Centre De Lutte Contre Le Cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
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40
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Ma C, Zhang Q, Greten TF. MDSCs in liver cancer: A critical tumor-promoting player and a potential therapeutic target. Cell Immunol 2021; 361:104295. [PMID: 33508529 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2021.104295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (~75-85%) and cholangiocarcinoma (~10-15%) account for the majority of primary liver malignancies. Patients with primary liver cancer are often diagnosed with unresectable diseases and do not respond well to current therapies. The liver is also a common site of metastasis. Liver metastasis is difficult to treat, and the prognosis is poor. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells with immunosuppressive activity. MDSCs are an important component of the tumor microenvironment and promote tumor progression through various mechanisms. MDSCs expand in both liver cancer patients and mouse liver cancer models. Importantly, MDSCs correlate with poor clinical outcomes for liver cancer patients. The tumor-promoting functions of MDSCs have also been shown in mouse liver cancer models. All these studies suggest that targeting MDSCs can potentially benefit liver cancer treatment. This review summarizes the current findings of MDSC regulation in liver cancer and related disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Ma
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Qianfei Zhang
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tim F Greten
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; NCI-CCR Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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41
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Sirica AE, Strazzabosco M, Cadamuro M. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Morpho-molecular pathology, tumor reactive microenvironment, and malignant progression. Adv Cancer Res 2020; 149:321-387. [PMID: 33579427 PMCID: PMC8800451 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a relatively rare, but highly lethal and biologically complex primary biliary epithelial cancer arising within liver. After hepatocellular carcinoma, iCCA is the second most common primary liver cancer, accounting for approximately 10-20% of all primary hepatic malignancies. Over the last 10-20 years, iCCA has become the focus of increasing concern largely due to its rising incidence and high mortality rates in various parts of the world, including the United States. The challenges posed by iCCA are daunting and despite recent progress in the standard of care and management options for iCCA, the prognosis for this cancer continues to be dismal. In an effort to provide a framework for advancing our understanding of iCCA malignant aggressiveness and therapy resistance, this review will highlight key etiological, biological, molecular, and microenvironmental factors hindering more effective management of this hepatobiliary cancer. Particular focus will be on critically reviewing the cell origins and morpho-molecular heterogeneity of iCCAs, providing mechanistic insights into high risk fibroinflammatory cholangiopathies associated with iCCA development, and notably discussing the deleterious role played by the tumor reactive desmoplastic stroma in regulating iCCA malignant progression, lymphangiogenesis, and tumor immunobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alphonse E Sirica
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
| | - Mario Strazzabosco
- Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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42
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Hicks RJ, Roselt PJ, Kallur KG, Tothill RW, Mileshkin L. FAPI PET/CT: Will It End the Hegemony of 18F-FDG in Oncology? J Nucl Med 2020; 62:296-302. [PMID: 33277397 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.256271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For over 40 years, 18F-FDG has been the dominant PET tracer in neurology, cardiology, inflammatory diseases, and, most particularly, oncology. Combined with the ability to perform whole-body scanning, 18F-FDG has revolutionized the evaluation of cancer and has stifled the adoption of other tracers, except in situations where low avidity or high background activity limits diagnostic performance. The strength of 18F-FDG has generally been its ability to detect disease in the absence of structural abnormality, thereby enhancing diagnostic sensitivity, but its simultaneous weakness has been a lack of specificity due to diverse pathologies with enhanced glycolysis. Radiotracers that leverage other hallmarks of cancer or specific cell-surface targets are gradually finding a niche in the diagnostic armamentarium. However, none have had sufficient sensitivity to realistically compete with 18F-FDG for evaluation of the broad spectrum of malignancies. Perhaps, this situation is about to change with development of a class of tracers targeting fibroblast activation protein that have low uptake in almost all normal tissues but high uptake in most cancer types. In this review, the development and exciting preliminary clinical data relating to various fibroblast activation protein-specific small-molecule inhibitor tracers in oncology will be discussed along with potential nononcologic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney J Hicks
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter J Roselt
- Cancer Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Richard W Tothill
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Linda Mileshkin
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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43
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Brennen WN, J Thorek DL, Jiang W, Krueger TE, Antony L, Denmeade SR, Isaacs JT. Overcoming stromal barriers to immuno-oncological responses via fibroblast activation protein-targeted therapy. Immunotherapy 2020; 13:155-175. [PMID: 33148078 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2020-0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment contributes to disease progression through multiple mechanisms, including immune suppression mediated in part by fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-expressing cells. Herein, a review of FAP biology is presented, supplemented with primary data. This includes FAP expression in prostate cancer and activation of latent reservoirs of TGF-β and VEGF to produce a positive feedback loop. This collectively suggests a normal wound repair process subverted during cancer pathophysiology. There has been immense interest in targeting FAP for diagnostic, monitoring and therapeutic purposes. Until recently, this development has outpaced an understanding of the biology; impeding optimal translation into the clinic. A summary of these applications is provided with an emphasis on eliminating tumor-infiltrating FAP-positive cells to overcome stromal barriers to immuno-oncological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Nathaniel Brennen
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Daniel L J Thorek
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63310, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63310, USA
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Timothy E Krueger
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Lizamma Antony
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Samuel R Denmeade
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - John T Isaacs
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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44
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Caligiuri A, Pastore M, Lori G, Raggi C, Di Maira G, Marra F, Gentilini A. Role of Chemokines in the Biology of Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082215. [PMID: 32784743 PMCID: PMC7463556 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a heterogeneous tumor with poor prognosis, can arise at any level in the biliary tree. It may derive from epithelial cells in the biliary tracts and peribiliary glands and possibly from progenitor cells or even hepatocytes. Several risk factors are responsible for CCA onset, however an inflammatory milieu nearby the biliary tree represents the most common condition favoring CCA development. Chemokines play a key role in driving the immunological response upon liver injury and may sustain tumor initiation and development. Chemokine receptor-dependent pathways influence the interplay among various cellular components, resulting in remodeling of the hepatic microenvironment towards a pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrogenic, pro-angiogenic and pre-neoplastic setting. Moreover, once tumor develops, chemokine signaling may influence its progression. Here we review the role of chemokines in the regulation of CCA development and progression, and the modulation of angiogenesis, metastasis and immune control. The potential role of chemokines and their receptors as possible biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for hepatobiliary cancer is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Fabio Marra
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (A.G.); Tel.: +39-055-2758095 or +39-055-2758498 or +39-055-2758499 (F.M.); +39-055-2751801 (A.G.)
| | - Alessandra Gentilini
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (A.G.); Tel.: +39-055-2758095 or +39-055-2758498 or +39-055-2758499 (F.M.); +39-055-2751801 (A.G.)
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Molecular and Immunological Characterization of Biliary Tract Cancers: A Paradigm Shift Towards a Personalized Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082190. [PMID: 32781527 PMCID: PMC7464597 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a group of rare cancers that account for up to 3–5% of cancer patients worldwide. BTCs include cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), gallbladder cancer (GBC), and ampulla of Vater cancer (AVC). They are frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage when the disease is often found disseminated. A late diagnosis highly compromises surgery, the only potentially curative option. Current treatment regimens include a combination of chemotherapeutic drugs gemcitabine with cisplatin that have a limited efficiency since more than 50% of patients relapse in the first year. More recently, an inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) was approved as a second-line treatment, based on the promising results from the NCT02924376 clinical trial. However, novel secondary treatment options are urgently needed. Recent molecular characterization of CCA and GBC highlighted the molecular heterogeneity, etiology, and epidemiology in BTC development and lead to the classification of the extrahepatic CCA into four types: metabolic, proliferating, mesenchymal, and immune type. Differences in the immune infiltration and tumor microenvironment (TME) have been described as well, showing that only a small subset of BTCs could be classified as an immune “hot” and targeted with the immunotherapeutic drugs. This recent evidence has opened a way to new clinical trials for BTCs, and new drug approvals are highly expected by the medical community.
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